Who Should I Start? Mason Rudolph or Joe Milton III

Wednesday, May 28, 11:59 AM

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph opened OTAs with the first-team offense on Tuesday, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. This news isn't much of a surprise, but it does confirm head coach Mike Tomlin's vision as full-team practices get underway this summer. Presumably, the starting quarterback job is Rudolph's to lose, barring an external quarterback addition such as Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins. Rudolph's internal competition comes from Skylar Thompson and rookie Will Howard. Thompson has completed just 58.7 percent of his career passes with one touchdown, three interceptions, and two fumbles. He primarily served as a backup over three seasons in Miami. Meanwhile, Howard is a rookie who impressed at Ohio State, but he has suboptimal draft capital as a sixth-round pick. On the other hand, Rudolph has shown flashes of potential during his time with the Steelers (2018-2023) and Titans (2024). In Tennessee last year, he completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,530 yards, nine touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

Thursday, April 3, 10:25 AM

The Dallas Cowboys are sending a fifth-round pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for quarterback Joe Milton III and a seventh-round pick, according to Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team. Milton has been in trade rumors all offseason long and is headed to Dallas to back up Dak Prescott now that Cooper Rush is with the Baltimore Ravens. Milton, a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Tennessee, flashed in his limited opportunity with New England as a rookie. In Week 18, the 25-year-old connected on 22 of his 29 passing attempts for 241 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. He added 10 rushing yards and a score on the ground. While Milton still does not have a clear path to a starting role, he could be one of the top quarterbacks to stash in deep two-QB or Superflex leagues. Prescott has missed at least five games in three of his nine NFL seasons. Milton is arguably one of the most talented signal-callers in the NFL, but touch and accuracy have been a concern for the rocket-armed QB.